Highland Monkeys

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Sunday, 22 March 2015

Hello again chummies, these last few weeks I've been doing some embroideries. Here is the finished robin that I showed half done last time.

All fluffed up against the cold! You can see how small he is. Worked on a piece of vintage tea towel as a practise piece.

.....and here is his little friend happily sitting on his branch. Appliqued flowers, one of which is a heart. You might recognise that these are Trish Burr's bird designs and I have tweeked them with longer branches to fit in the appliqued flowers.

Also worked with one thread of dmc floss onto a vintage table mat. So sweet.

This little birdie has some eggs to hatch and she's pretty happy about that! Does this mean spring is here I do hope so! She has chosen a pretty branch with flowers to make her nest in.

Last but no means least is a sweet little blue tit. All fluffy and cute. This was also a practise piece worked onto a vintage towel with added flowers.

In a little frame, which I have since broken and had to glue back together, then the back holders snapped off! Still if no one touches it, it's quite safe!! I am repeating the design on another little table mat. He is just too cute for words! This needle painting is very theraputic and also rather addictive I have to say. Might never be as good as Trish but I will enjoy the journey for sure.

For those that like me posting the doggie pictures. Here is there latest escapade. Riding on a tractor getting some practise in for the plowing the field competition. Nicky driving, Logan looking out for bumps and barking directions and Archie directing from behind. (back seat driver!)

Saturday, 7 March 2015

My daughter felted this little robin for me on some wool fabric and then I added some needlework.

Now what shall it be, a nice big brooch for a scarf?

Nope, found a box frame upstairs that just fitted and with an added label which says European robin in Latin (I did alter the label slightly after I took the photo) it makes a nice little picture.

Everybody squash up, and make room for little Robin Redbreast on the mantelpiece, which is getting rather crowded! We have a nest in the honeysuckle in our back garden which comes to life in spring time with a family of robins, so sweet. There is also a robin that lives out the front somewhere, but never the twain shall meet, cos although they are so cute looking, boy do they hammer each other given the chance!

Now how cute is this, just too cute for words!! Eldest daughter, who needle felted the German Shepherd in my last blog, made this for her sister. Yes, needle felting again. How clever of her. Her facebook page is Amanda.C art, she has also done a pug portrait, which is on her page. Commissions welcome.

Here is a peek at some needlework I have been stitching, more about that next time.

Saturday, 21 February 2015

I wonder if you can guess what this German Shepherd is made of? I'll tell you! It's a dry needlefelted 'painting' made by my eldest daughter. This is her first try in this medium as usually she works with paints. But after seeing my wool stash and some photos on the net she wanted to have a go. We were amazed at how well she has done this picture. It looks like a painting! Needless to say that my wool felting stash has somewhat depleted as she has squirreled them off to her house along with the needles to go with it.

In a temporary frame on my mantlepiece. She will be doing commissions if anyone is interested in having a doggy/cat/pet portrait.

This is one of my makes of the week. Two little sockies, can't help making them occasionally! Cute little monkey socks and a cheerful flower pattern. Best of mates as you can see! (not ce marked, so not for kiddies) We have needed our hats and scarfs this week as it has been a tad chilly.

The cheeky triplets made from some scraps of baby socks.
Getting cosy in the furry blanket.

Sunday, 8 February 2015

I received two gorgeous presents last week. The first one is hand painted in watercoloursby my eldest daughter and is pretty large. 4 doggie friends together. They all get along fabulously and as they all live nearby they have lots of meet ups for runs and fun.

The lighting was a bit dull at the time and had a bit of a blue cast over this photo.

We changed the frame to this wooden one which fitted better than the white one. I might paint this one white at a later date. Now it's up over the mantel, although we put it up a little higher in the end tho so it cleared the ornaments a bit better.

You might wonder who these doggies are. So from left to right is Logan (son of Archie and Nikki) Jazz the cocker spaniel (Uncle Jazz to Logan!) he lives with daughter. Our Archie and Nikki is laying down (Logan/Nikki live together with another daughter.

The doggies were painted from 4 different photos by eldest daughter and I absolutely LOVE it.

Next from Nikki's owner is this fab cushion. (daughter no2) A caricature of Archie.

That wording is so right!! haha. I did wonder why daughter No2 was taking particular interest in my stash pile and whisking them away, but I was duped into thinking she was still working on a pressie for her friend. (which she was)

Archie is a bit peeved about not being allowed to sit on them tho as he thinks cos they got his picture on that it was made for him. No chance Archie!!

As I wasn't using my felting equipment at the time I casually let my eldest 'borrow' them to see whether she could felt a 'painting' what she came up with is simply amazing but you will have to wait till next time to see the results......sorry!

At this rate my large amount of stash will be de-stashed, maybe I will hang my crafty hands up and retire......or maybe not!

Hope you like and they are both taking orders, you can email me with enquiries.

Sunday, 25 January 2015

Hello again chums. Once again it's all about the houses! This small sampler is hand embroidered onto cotton with sweet little colourful houses. The top two houses has even some chickens in the garden! The sun is peeking out over the rooftops. The sun might come out on even the gloomiest of days.

In a nice box frame which finishes it off nicely I think.

And now on my mantelpiece next to the blue house.

The other little house scene is a 'quirky' harbour lights, taken from a song of the same same name. The words along the bottom are from the song, which first came out in the 1930,s I believe.

I have since corrected the spelling mistake! The song is about a chap that went away to sea and left his sweetheart on the shore. I do hope he came back to her!

My daughter is doing a painting of all our family dogs together (of which there are 4) It will be going in pride of place of the mantelpiece so I hope to show it to you all next time, along with something that isn't a house that I've been making, so watch this space!! lol

We are all longing for spring and warmer weather, including Archie. He can't wait to get his shades back on and do some sunbathing!

Friday, 2 January 2015

Where did last year vanish to, over far to quick for my liking! Now we are in the depths of winter, but on the bright side, days are getting just a touch longer! We didn't get any snow when other's down the country did, what we had was a thick frost and cemented on ice, which was extremely slippy. Even taking the dogs on their favourite walks on pebble tracks was dodgy....dogs loved it tho.

At the moment I have a number of vintage toys on ebay here is the linkif you want a peek.

I'm also on www.tsu.co which is a new site recently opened. You can go though this link if you like www.tsu/quirkyhousesYou have to register to see whats going on. It is similar to facebook.

On the crafting front this is one of the things I have been up to. Now gone to it's new home. A little snow scene with Sid the Snowman waiting for someone to come out and play!

The bottom picture is a more true to colour. Can you see the lights are on....a roaring fire, crumpets toasted!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! But only if I'm inside next to the fire!!

Of all the laps little Logan could sleep on, he chooses this most uncomfortable looking position. haha

Friday, 12 December 2014

Brrr and Brrrr again. Turned bitterly cold and very windy, although we havn't had this 'weather bomb' that was coming our way. (is it the media that makes up these names to get our attention?) even the electric stayed on. Just nipping out to the hen house was trauma enough!

As the dark nights have turned into dark days my photos are even worse than usual and the colours of the little houses are a bit more vibrant than the photo.

Can you see my little cottage hiding in there somewhere, see if you can find it! I made some little trees to add to the village scene. The houses on the top have smoke coming out of the chimneys, nice cosy fire inside just right for these winter days.

Mr. Poslethwaite has landed and spreading hearts which are in his basket. His warm enough in his hat and scarf! (he is made from a polystyrene ball and then covered in paper clay and bamboo legs.

This was a very quick make. Butterflies cut out from some wallpaper, one slightly bigger than the other, bottom one stuck down and the top one with a touch of glue along it's body and in a cheapo box frame.....bingo...finished! For my daughter as a 'moving in to her new home' pessie.

A 3-D effect and cost was nothing as I already had the frame.

Think it will be some time before we see any sun and hang out with friends in the garden. The sunglasses and tanning lotion have been safetly put away for next year.....sigh....oooh wonder if there will be snowball fights and building snowmen, now that sounds fun!

Sunday, 30 November 2014

Hello folks, the time is marching along pretty quickly and tho it's been very mild I do wonder if we will have any snow this winter. We only got a light dusting last January not enough to make a snowball with let alone a snowman!

This little 'quirky' house picture was made for a family member so I hope they like it.

Also this week I've been fiddling about with some different sort of houses. This one is a winter scene..

Do you like the red heart hanging on the branch? The occupants hung it there when they moved in. haha There is smoke coming out of the chimney so somebody is in, lets go and have a cuppa with a slice of cake while we warm our tootsies by the fire.

Side view.

'Posh' girl is sitting next to it so you can see the size of the house. Lots of snow on the roof and on the 'trees'. 'Posh' is feeling quite chilly sitting there with her fancy ball dress on!

Here are a few more houses sitting in the shelves while I await inspiration. The box (or little drawer) is one of 5 that Head Honcho found in the shed. I just added a couple of shelves, handy eh, just right for little houses.

Archie is taking a keen interest in gardening and likes this 'blue' orchid very much although he is wondering why it doesn't smell. The two buds on the end that have now come out are a pale shade of blue with a pink strip centre.

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Hello folks. Here is the finished 'quirky' house sampler. I decided it looked better as a sampler than a cushion, what do you think? It measures appox 17"x17".

Photo is a tad darker than in real life.

Come and take a stroll around the village and have a closer look at these cheerful houses...

Notice the apples on the tree and quilt flapping on the line. Little kitty cat peeking out the window and flowers brightening up the window.

I want...no need.... the top room in the blue house, would make an excellent work room!

Good TV reception with those aerials!

Plenty of eggs available in this village.

The sun is peeking through so looks like it's going to be a bright day.

.....and it certainly is.

and back to the begining. Hope you enjoyed the tour.

I am getting on very well with the multi coloured blanket and nearly finished the second strip, so maybe it might be in time for this winter and not the next one! Anyway Archie has his beady eyes on it for a possible snuggle blanket for himself.....I think not! There are a couple of unfinished projects littered around the house that need to be finished if I can find that elusive craft mojo!!

Logan (who belongs to daughter) is getting just to cute, now 5 months old. (Those black eyes) I think if he wasn't he'd be in the dog house before now! Archie (he's dad) likes to rough and tumble with him and teaches him how to bury a bone and other doggy behaviour.

Don't bark at the postman, give him a smile then he just might give you a biscuit. Haha.